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Lead Contamination in Drinking Water
What to Know About Lead in Well Water
Skillings & Sons
Lead Contamination in
Drinking Water
If you receive your
water from a private well, you’re responsible for the quality and safety of
your home’s water supply.
The EPA recommends
annual testing to ensure the health of your well.
One important well
water test to include annually is a lead test. This is
necessary for every occupant in the home, but if you have infants or small
children, testing should be a priority.
Lead is a highly toxic
metal that is naturally occurring and found in small
amounts on the earth’s outer layer.
It is rarely found
naturally in groundwater but was used for many years in products around the
home, including plumbing pipes, fittings, and solder.
As a result, small
amounts of it can get into your water supply as your water travels through your
plumbing system after it leaves your well.
Corrosion causes lead
to leach from pipes, solder joints and brass alloy faucets.
If your water has low
pH (acidic), has low mineral content or a high salt content it can react with
any lead present to cause corrosion.
The
Health Effects Of Lead
The lead that is
present in drinking water can have negative health effects for anyone who
drinks it.
However, the effects
can be much worse in infants and young children.
Exposure to high levels
can result in delays in physical and mental development.
In adults, high-level
exposure can lead to kidney problems and high blood pressure.
The main sources of
exposure are ingesting lead paint and inhaling dust.
The EPA estimates that
only 10 to 20 percent of human exposure may come from drinking water.
However, infants who
consume mixed formula can receive up to 60 percent of their exposure from
drinking water.
Public water systems
are required by law to screen and take action if more that 10% of samples
tested exceed the legal limit of 15 parts per billion (ppb).
However, the EPA does
not regulate for homes that receive water from a private water supply. That is
the responsibility of you, the homeowner.
SHOULD I HAVE MY WATER TESTED FOR LEAD?
The short answer is
yes. Testing is especially important if you have infants, small children, or
pregnant or nursing women living in your home.
It cannot be seen, has
no taste or odor, and testing is the only way to detect its presence. Contact
your local health department for a list of state-certified testing
laboratories.
You should be concerned
if your home has lead pipes or if you see signs of corrosion like frequent
leaks, rust-colored water, stained dishes or laundry, or if your non-plastic
plumbing is less than five years old.
If you suspect and
contamination is present in your water or your water tests positive there are
some precautionary actions you should take:
• Use only cold water for drinking or cooking
• Run water for 15 seconds before drinking, especially if you have not used
your water for a few hours.
• Take treatment steps to reduce the corrosivity of your water
• Install point of use filters or a distillation system for your drinking
and cooking water supply.
If you have any
questions, you should contact a state-certified well water professional. They
can help you with testing and offer options for reducing the lead levels in
your water.
Skillings & Sons, Inc. is a trusted name in well drilling and water system
installation and maintenance throughout New England. We strive to listen to our
clients’ needs, help them understand each step of the process and build their
trust and loyalty. We are a 3rd generation family business, servicing
New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Maine. Our technicians are well-trained
in the latest equipment, procedures and land use regulations for both
residential and commercial work. Having been in this business for more than 45
years, we have built a staff with more than 250 years of combined experience in
well and water system service.
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